Ramona Singer

For those of you that believed the firing of certain Housewives meant the next season of Real Housewives of New York would feature less arguing, cattiness and back-stabbing, you may be out of luck! I mean they kept Ramona Singer on their payroll after all, and allegedly doubled her salary!

The NY Daily News is claiming feuding has already begun amongst the ladies, despite the addition of three new cast members who were supposed to bring a different atmosphere to one of the most popular series in the Housewives franchise. While insiders promise the show will be “totally different than last season,” that doesn’t appear to be the case! Suspected new Housewives Carole Radziwill,Heather Thomson andAviva Drescherapparently wasted no time in choosing sides and waging battles!

“It’s Sonja, LuAnn and Heather vs. Aviva and Ramona,” the source reveals. “LuAnn and Sonja are now the queen bees of the show.” Does this mean an end to the dreaded (re: inappropriate and immature) Ramonja!?

Ramona and Aviva were friends prior to filming with some reports saying Ramona brought her into the show. Avivia’s previous relationship with Pinot have led her to take a “more neutral” stance in forming relationships with her other cast mates. Better watch out Aviva or your first season may be your last (see: Barshop, Cindy)!

A source reveals that one of the new ladies planned a cast-wide trip to London and everyone was included except Pinot! “Everyone was invited but Ramona,” says the source, adding that Ramona may have been excluded because she is getting “the diva-bitch edit this season.”

“Ramona is still a troublemaker,” says the source. “She delivers drama big time” in the upcoming season.

So, while the other Housewives were abroad celebrating freedom from Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio, Ramona soothed her hurt by throwing herself a “raucous” birthday lunch at Manhattan’s Bar Italia. “She had 24 of her closest friends there and did not seem to miss the other housewives one bit,” a guest reported. “So excited! Headed to my birthday luncheon at Bar Italia with 20 of my best girlfriends!!” Ramona Tweeted.

Oddly not included in the guest list was former blonde bestie Sonja – even though the two have birthdays close together! Sources tell the NY Daily News that there is now “tension” between the former besties.

I also noticed neither lady issued a Happy Birthday Tweet! Photos of the party from Ramona’s Twitter are below – noticeably absent are members of the Housewives cast! Noticeably present – some very scary plastic surgery!

Ramona’s party was not without her product promotions as her real friends surprised her with a pinot grigio themed cake. “We had it done by Heather Barranco Dreamcakes. It had an edible bottle of Ramona’s label of pinot and edible pieces from her True Faith jewelry line, all made of out hard sugar. The cake looked and tasted great.” It is pretty amazing!

After guests were forced to imbibe Pinot’s wine for the afternoon Turtle Time came out in full-force as everyone hit the dance floor to relive the glory days of Studio 54. “Ramona had a blast,” says the insider to Wetpaint. “We all did. We spent the afternoon eating, drinking and getting down on the dance floor!”

Did the party also feature a pinot grigio fountain? Because I’m pretty sure that’s all Ramona really wanted for her birthday! A photo of Ramona with her namesake cake and her wine is below. It’s Pinot-licious! If you’re into that sort of thing…

[Photo Credit: Joseph Marzullo/Wenn.com]

THOUGHTS ON THE NEWEST HOUSEWIVES FEUD? ARE YOU SURPRISED THE LADIES ARE FIGHTING ALREADY? ARE YOU AS SHOCKED AS I AM BY THE ALLEGED END OF RAMONJA?

Speaking to WomenOnTheFence.com, Ramona discussed starting her first business, balancing career and family and, of course, Housewives. Surprisingly this interview is positive, professional and inspiring! Was Pinot the victim of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers?!

Ramona reveals that she started her first business at age 29 after borrowing $70,000 in startup capital from her father. She was so successful she was able to pay him back – with interest – after one month! Say what? Ramona “Foot In Mouth” Singer?

“I was witness of domestic violence growing up. I would constantly ask my mother, ‘Why are you married? Why don’t you leave Dad?’ Her answer to me was always the same, ‘I had no money, I got pregnant, and I have 4 kids, where am I going? Promise me Ramona, you will always make your own money. Become successful in your own right, so God forbid your marriage goes south, you can walk out the door,’” Ramona shares of her tumultuous upbringing.

“That was my message growing up. I have been on my own since 19 years old, and put myself through college.” Despite her father’s abusive behavior he was a successful executive. “I actually think I got my brains from him,” Ramona says. When she approached him with her idea for her first business he was immediately on board. “I had an idea and was looking for a partner with startup capital. My dad said to me, ‘You don’t need any partners in life. How much money do you need?’”

Now as we all know, Ramona owns several businesses hawking everything from skin care to Pinot! “I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, because I wanted flexibility in my life. I wanted to have it all- motherhood, marriage, career, and owning my own business gave me that flexibility.”

And that’s exactly how she approaches RHONY — as a business opportunity. Oh, really? You don’t say… “As far as the show goes, everything I do on the show is real,” Ramona claims (making me question her behavior even more!). “You can blame editing – yah maybe some highlights are edited, but it’s real, and I’m really me. And that is why I have a strong fan base.”

“I’m not mean spirited. Sometimes I’m unedited, and I do need to filter things, but I am trying to learn to keep my mouth shut a little,” she says laughing. “For me, this season is all about showcasing how you can have it all. I feel very blessed with a great family, and great friends.”

Ramona’s initial motivation for joining Housewives was to promote her business True Faith Jewelry, but the platform allowed her to expand into so many other avenues. And Ramona admits to her, “money is power!” “Money is freedom. I got married at 37 – I didn’t need a man to buy me things or take me on vacations. I married for love and family,” she adds, perhaps taking digs at some of her co-stars past and present for marrying for other reasons.

“You have to constantly reinvent yourself to stay on top,” she advises. And that’s perhaps exactly why she’s so successful on reality TV; she’s able to shift with the tide and follow the drama (which means $$!).

Ramona believes all her hard work and dedication has paid off as she is living her dream.“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Just good health, great family and friends, and happiness. That’s the dream,” she gushes. “Six years ago, had you asked me if I thought I would have all this, and a reality show, I never would have believed it. But life is an experience, and you go where it takes you.” I can’t believe I’m saying this, but great advice, Pinot!

[Photo Credit: IZZY/WENN.com]

TELL US WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RAMONA’S INTERVIEW? WERE YOU HAPPY SHE KEPT IT POSITIVE AND INSPIRING OR DO YOU PREFER THE CRAY-CRAY DRAMA PINOT WE’VE ALL COME TO LOVE?

Real Housewives of New York may have done a complete cast over-haul, but that doesn’t mean things are going smoothly while filming season five!

The New York Post is reporting that Bravo is having trouble filming in certain New York hot spots and that some Housewives (ahem… Ramona Singer) are being demanding! Sources report that the producers are “having difficulty” filming in restaurants and other establishments because many locations have “soured” on the series and “are not opening their doors freely for filming.”

“They’re trying to book locations at the last minute… giving the impression that others are falling through,” said a source associated with the nightlife industry. Of course, a Bravo rep is dispelling the rumors, claiming there have been “no issues” procuring locations.

Meanwhile, it seems wine purveyor Pinot Singer has let her Pinot go to her head – literally! Ramona has allegedly been causing trouble at famed NY restaurants Phillippe and Ciano over her “demands” to serve Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio during filming. “She asked that her wine be there when she ordered dinner. It wasn’t on the list, but she offered to send over a case. But the restaurants refused to accommodate,” an insider revealed. “You know how Ramona is about her pinot.” Um… yes, we certainly do! Reps for the restaurants had no comment, but outspoken housewife Ramona certainly did!

Speaking to Wetpaint Entertainment, Ramona insists the story is completely untrue; denying that she filmed at Phillippe and while dining at Ciano she made no such fuss! “I graciously drank the pinot grigio they offered,” Ramona reports. “Although, I have to say, my Ramona Pinot Grigio is the best!”

“Am I passionate about my pinot grigio? Absolutely! And now that I have my own wine, why wouldn’t I bring a bottle with me? But I always call ahead and ask permission and they usually charge me a bottle fee.” Adding a big ‘take that!’ to the upscale eateries, Ramona claims her wine is carried in other big name restaurants around Manhattan.

In other RHONY news former, fired, relieved of her duties Housewives’ krazy lady Kelly Bensimon is not sitting home crying because the author of the upcoming I Can Make You Hot! has just signed with a big-name Hollywood manager!

Kelly has recently enlisted the services of Larry Rudolph of ReignDeer Entertainment. Larry also manages such high-profile celebrities as Britney Spears and is credited with raising her to superstar levels. I bet Melissa Gorga is jealous! We will definitely be seeing Kelly’s koo-koo on TV again soon, as her rep is revealing she has a new TV show in the works — although that’s all the details for now!

[Photos credit: WENN]

THOUGHTS ON THE RHONY FILMING DRAMA? DO YOU BELIEVE RAMONA IS BEING DIFFICULT OR ARE THE RESTAURANTS SEEKING PUBLICITY? THOUGHTS ON KELLY’S NEW MANAGER AND FUTURE TV PROJECTS?

Speaking to Access Atlanta while promoting Skweeze Couture (is anyone buying that?), the formidable former Housewife was refreshingly candid, which means she basically put her foot in her mouth and said things that are bound to get the public all riled up!

Jill admits she would have “liked to stay on the show” for the opportunity and income it provided, but she isn’t necessarily sad it ended! “Now that I’m off the show, I can see my reputation getting better,” she insists. “Things improved season four after it was damaged season three. People are starting to realize, watching other reality shows, that maybe they were too harsh on me.” We are? Well perhaps, in light of former bestie and co-star Bethenny Frankel’s latest issues with the media some fans may be reconsidering their opinions of Jill and the demise of her friendship with Bethenny.

About that feud… Jill was eager to address that what we saw on TV was not necessarily how it played out in real life. Cue the Producer Manipulation accusation employed by all reality stars in times of strife! Jill insists that the time Bethenny called her to discuss their imploding friendship and Jill put her on speaker phone while her new BFF, LuAnn de Lesseps was sitting next to her to over-hear everything wasn’t to be mean and catty, but to accommodate the producers! Apparently, Jill didn’t realize Bethenny also had a camera crew with her at that same time. Oops. Regardless, that doesn’t redeem all the catty comments!

Jill cites another incident where she put former cast-mate Ramona Singer on speakerphone only for Ramona to make rude comments about LuAnn while LuAnn was sitting right there!

Despite the pain it caused her and the loss of her friendship with Bethenny, Jill (who once said she thought the feud was manufactured for TV drama purposes) is thankful for her experiences on RHONY. “Four years was much longer than I ever thought the show would last,” she reveals. “I’m grateful. And the show lives on. Plus, repeats are now being rolled out in other countries so I get emails all over the world asking me if I’m still best friends with Bethenny.” I wonder if she tells them to Google IHJZ!?

Jill claims she sensed her time was coming to an end with Bravo and was prepared and expressed her disappointment over the reactions of other fired Housewives, namely Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen who asserted Jill was responsible for Alex’s termination! Alex is quoted as saying Jill has “been trying to get me off the show for a number of years. She succeeded…She’s a manipulator and she’s very good at feeding information to her own end.”

“I was disappointed by what they said,” Jill reflected. “It hurt my feelings. For good or bad, we made great television. We had fun together. Season four, I didn’t have one fight with Alex. We got along in Morocco. Don’t go after me. Go after another housewife that did something to you, not me.”

“After we were let go that Saturday night, I reached out to all the girls, including Alex and Simon. I said if you need me for anything, I get booked for appearances and if they need other people, I can suggest you. Now I don’t want to work with them,” Jill remarks. “I was trying to be nice.”

Jill assures us, once again, she is not finished with reality TV! Apparently her Bravo contract “limited her ability to make appearances on shows on rival networks”, but since the “The Golden Child” Bethenny was able to appear on the horrible Skating With The Stars, Jill believes she’ll be able to go to another network, no problem. In fact, she is “in talks” to do a new show though nothing is set in stone just yet. I seriously hope it has nothing to do with Patti Stanger’s proposed “Glamazons”!

“I think people are going to miss me,” Jill believes, confident that once Season 5 premieres without her everyone is going to wish she was still included in the cast. I wouldn’t bet too much money on that one, Jill!

In other Jill news, the product she is desperately hawking, Skweeze Couture, is on the market and Jill insists she knows what she’s doing! “It’s not like I’m a celebrity who woke up and said, ‘Oh, let me do a line of this or that.’ What I’m doing makes sense based on what I already know. I feel like I’m filling a void.” Apparently, lots of women need girdles!

Apparently. Since the NY Daily News reviewed Skweeze (and two other shapewear companies, although not Skinnygirl Shapewear) and found that while it definitely sucks in your fat, you might need “the Jaws of Life” to remove it! When asked if Skweeze was supposed to be so um… restricting, Jill replied: “I didn’t make it to be comfortable, I made it to work!” Well the reviews are in and it works, it’s just about the most uncomfortable garment ever manufactured, but “it lives up to its name!”

[Photo Credit: PNP/ WENN.com]

THOUGHTS ON JILL’S INTERVIEW? ARE YOU SURPRISED SHE IS STILL TALKING ABOUT GETTING FIRED? DO YOU THINK HER SPEAKER PHONE GAFF WAS INTENTIONAL OR AT THE BEHEST OF THE PRODUCERS? WOULD YOU TRY SKWEEZE AFTER READING THE REVIEW?

After mostly keeping her comments to herself, LuAnn de Lesseps is finally throwing all that etiquette stuff out the window and as one of the only remaining originals of Real Housewives of New York, she is speaking out on the firings and the future of the show!

Get ready – it’s juicy!

In an exclusive interview with OK!, LuAnn publicly admits she is disappointed by who Bravo decided to fire, specifically Jill Zarin, but she is excited to still be included in the show! “I was happy because I wanted to do the next season, and sad at the same time, because Jill’s the one who initially started the show with me, and is the one who brought me onto the show,” she reveals.

“I really felt bad that she wasn’t coming back. And Kelly [Bensimon]– I’m going to miss the girls, I really am, but I’m excited about the new season and missing the girls. I have great memories with all the women. We made that show what it was from the beginning,” LuAnn muses, waxing nostalgic. Hey, at least one person will be mourning for Jill!

And since she is on a roll, LuAnn continues by reiterating that she’ll really miss Jill! Like a lot. LuAnn, you guys can still do things outside the show. “We’re like a weird, sick family,” she says of relationships to her former co-stars. “Jill and I started the show together with Ramona and Alex. Kelly came on later, but It’s really sad to see them go because it’s something we created and made successful together.”

If you noticed LuAnn has not mentioned Alex McCord being part of the “family,” it’s because LuAnn still hates her! “There was no reason [for her to attack me],” LuAnn quips referring to the argument after Morocco and other comments Alex has made about her in the press. Also noting that she also does not feel bad that Alex was fired.

As for the new cast, LuAnn is “looking forward to the new season,” except for one thing: Ramona Singer! “Ramona is Ra-mean-a,” LuAnn explains. “I see Ramona, and I run the other direction!”

LuAnn hasn’t seen Pinot Singer since the reunion and that’s fine with her! “She invited me to her party and I’m like ‘hello? Come on. Really?! You say that to me, and you expect me to show up and say ‘hi’?’ No. Not after you go after my kids.”

And a furious LuAnn then makes some jabs about Ramona’s drinking habits, after expressing that she is still (yes, STILL!) disappointed that Ramona declined to be in her music video for Chic C’est La Vie! “Turtle Time, Pinot Grigio – but that grossed me out.”

“There’s part of her I love and part of her I hate,” LuAnn continues. “She says the damndest things – it rolls out of her mouth, and she thinks she can get away with it. She’s not going to get away with it, because it’s ‘on’ for the next season,” LuAnn challenges.

As for a very re-vamped Season Five, according to LuAnn filming begins soon! “I’m really excited about the upcoming season, and I will look forward to the girls.” The expected new cast members are Carole Radziwill,Heather Thomson, andAviva Drescher.

Well, the next season better be an improvement over last year, especially considering the pay raise Ramona and LuAnn allegedly received! the Huffington Post is reporting that Bravo inked a contract with LuAnn and Ramona (who let’s be frank, really know how to bring the dramz and the snippy comments) paying them a whopping $500,000 each to film Season Five!

“In the fourth season, LuAnn, Ramona, Jill and Alex all earned $275,000 for 16 regular episodes plus a one-day reunion taping that was shown as two episodes. “So in total it was $275,000 for a total of 18 episodes,” an insider states. “But now that Jill and Alex have been fired, LuAnn and Ramona are getting $500,000 to tape 18 episodes. That’s almost $28,000 an episode.” Come again?!

The reason for Bravo upping the ante? “Nothing causes drama more than asking all the ladies to do the same amount of work and paying some more for it than others,” one of the real housewives themselves reveals!

“Sonja [Morgan] and the new ladies are not earning anything like the money LuAnn and Ramona are and that is already causing tension — plus, a very unlikely friendship between past enemies LuAnn and Ramona,” the housewife insider details. Perhaps LuAnn and Ramona got together in the contract negotiation process! “It’s way too early to know how all this is going to play out, but early meetings have gone great!”

Bravo declined to comment on the upcoming season and the alleged pay raises, but I wouldn’t put it past them to resort to unscrupulous measures to cause drama (See: New Jersey, Housewives, “Real”)!

Thoughts on LuAnn’s interview and comments about Ramona? Obsessed with Jill, much? Are you as surprised as I am that Ramona and LuAnn will be earning half a Mil to be part of RHONY?

And while LuAnn will “really miss Jill,” she is optimistic about the new ladies. “I’m excited about the new cast,” although she hasn’t actually met any of her new co-stars. If they are all friends with Ramona Singer, I predict a rocky fifth season for our favorite ex-countess!

And speaking of exes, ex-housewife Alex McCord and ex-hanger-on Simon van Kempen are finally moving forward after getting terminated! In a shocking interview with the NY Post, Simon admits the duo was out of place among their castmates (yes, I read it twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things). “Alex and I were always miscast in the show,” he confesses. “And if [Bravo] is taking it to the ‘Beverly Hills’ level of money, of course we wouldn’t be on.” Wow… refreshing honesty, Simon!

As for the rumors that the McCord-Van Kempens begged Bravo for their jobs back, even willing to take a 50% pay cut out of their $275,000 salary, Simon calls the gossip “100 percent not true,” which was also confirmed by a Bravo rep (a very reliable source, if I’ve ever heard one!).

“Once we had a no, it was no,” Simon explains. “That would’ve just perpetuated the perception we are the wannabes they made us out to be.” Wait – Bravo made them look like wannabes? #Idontbelieveyou.

“We’re sad it’s not continuing. But four years wasn’t bad,” Simon concludes. Good attitude Silex! The two reveal they are now focusing on a line of Egyptian-cotton towels and bedding, called Aluxe, which they plan to launch this week.

It also appears the firing of Silex isn’t preventing Ramona from contuining to hang out with Alex. Ramona posted the following photo below of herself hanging out with Alex over the weekend. Ramona wrote on her facebook today: “Morning! How was everyone’s weekend? Mine was great. Ended it last night celebrating Alex’s birthday!”

Gossip columnist Rob Shuter tweeted that filming on the new season of RHONY officially begins today. You can CLICK HERE to read all about the new housewives!

Are you surprised LuAnn will miss Jill? Did any of you attend the Housewives Live Tour – thoughts? Are you impressed with Silex’s new attitude?

In her first interview since the announcement that she would no longer be part of RHONY, Kelly talked her feelings about leaving, rambling incoherently telling E!, “You know, nothing lasts forever…I really want to stress that the show isn’t about Kelly Bensimon. It’s about my intersection with different women of New York City.“ And emphasizing that she may have umm… had some difficulties connecting on the show, she states: “It was a really heavy learning curve.”

When asked if she was “sad” about being cut from the cast, she offered a Kelly-nalogy to describe her feelings: “Sad is a big word. When My dog died, I was sad.” Well, I guess that works – after all it’s only a paycheck!

And Kelly, being Kelly, she is focusing on the positive! ‘Cause she’s really, really, ridiculously nice, you guys. “Change is good. In adverse situations—and I’ve dealt with so many adverse situations [on the show]—I’ve always opened the door and came out smiling. Tomorrow is a new day.”

And indeed, tomorrow is a new day for the former model, who claims she has many more television opportunities on the horizon. “I get approached all the time about doing different shows and everyone always has a different angle.” As for what kind of show she is looking for, Kelly reveals: “Whoever gives me the greatest deal that is synonymous with my brand, that’s something I want to do.” However, “this is the time for a bigger and better deal, I’m not going to lie,” she clarifies. Hey, she’s up here; and all the other housewives are down there!

As for Kelly’s former co-star, Ramona Singer; she also has more opportunities on the horizon as the wannabe mogul is scheduled to debut her newest jewelry line on HSN. Ramona explains her inspiration for the line came from her travels across the US. “I was afforded the opportunity to travel all over the country for Ramona Pinot Grigio,” Ramona enthuses, while simultaneously plugging one of her other products.

“Going from New York to Texas to California, I saw so many different jewelry styles and pieces. I tried to incorporate a little of everything into this collection.”

The collection, which is described as affordable, includes rings, earrings, necklaces and pendants starting at $219, and according to Ramona: “These pieces are glamorous, gorgeous and just fun.”

For those of you who thought you’d never hear from Jill Zarin again following her departure from Real Housewives of New York, you’re out of luck! Jill is all over the place: in the news, in Lord & Taylor, in some of our undergarments… the drama never ends with the red-headed mama.

In the latest installment of the Jill Zarin gossip brigade, Ramona Singer was possibly the driving force behind Bravo kicking Jill off RHONY!

A source reveals to UsWeekly that Ramona “came to Bravo with a few pals she thought would make good additions. Bravo decided to go with the new girls and not Jill, so Ramona basically ran her off the show.” It has been widely reported that the three new castmates are Carole Radziwill, Heather Thomson, andAviva Drescher. However none of the women are mentioned as being friends or acquaintances of Ramona.

Speaking to The Insider’s Christina McLarty about leaving the show, Jill confirms that Bravo wanted to go with different women. “The what happened is such a long answer,” Jill comments, rolling her eyes, “but basically we were not picked up. The show has gone in a different direction; they’ve added other girls.”

Jill was even more honest in her interview with GMA yesterday regarding the firing. “It was a little jolting. I’ll be honest,” said Jill referring to the call she received last week from Bravo executives confirming that she had been fired. “It didn’t feel good,” she added. “Nobody likes to not be asked back to the party.”

Jill also added that she’s not done with television and is in talks with a variety of networks concerning different projects, although she cannot give any further details at this time.

Ramona denies that she had anything to do with the network firing Jill; explaining “”We can recommend people to come to the show, but it’s not my decision.”

Another insider reveals the remaining ladies will NOT miss Jill. “Jill caused a lot of problems,” an insider reveals. “Her castmates were upset with her, since she’d tweet all these negative things. Karma’s a bitch.”

Thoughts on everyone’s comments? Are you surprised Jill was honest in admitting she was fired? Do you believe Ramona had something to do with Jill getting the axe?